Laura Wadlin

Bread & Roses slate for DSA's National Political Committee: Laura Wadlin, Kristin Schall, Alex Pellitteri

Laura Wadlin is chair of the Washington County Branch of Portland Democratic Socialists of America and a member of DSA’s Bread & Roses caucus.

2023 DSA NPC candidate forum

Laura Wadlin, Rael Almonte Reyes, Rashad X, Jesse Dreyer, Frances Gill, Jorge Rocha, Megan Romer, Luisa Martinez

Mini Bio

Laura Wadlin's mini bio from the Democratic Socialists of America's "Teach in" on the PRO Act "The PRO-Act and Democratic Socialism: Workers and the World Unite!" held in April, 2021:

"Co-chair of Portland DSA and former organizer in the non-profit industrial complex. In 2017 she was fired from her job after leading a unionization campaign at a community center where management used dirty union-busting tactics that would be punishable under the PRO-Act. She then served as Portland DSA's Labor Working Group co-chair, and she now teaches ESL at Portland Community College where she is a rank-and-file organizer in AFT local 2277."

For a Political, Prolific and Democratic DSA Editorial Board

In May 2023 Laura Wadlin signed a resolution "For a Political, Prolific and Democratic DSA Editorial Board" as one of the MUG and R&R's Joint Resolutions for the 2023 DSA National Convention in August in Chicago.

Background

Laura Wadlin works as an ESL instructor at Portland Community College, where she is a Lead Steward in her union, AFT Local 2277. There she has built a growing reform caucus and is working hard to prepare the local for a strike later this year. Prior to that, she was inspired by Bernie’s run in 2016 to lead two unionization campaigns in her workplaces.

Wadlin has worked on several electoral campaigns in canvassing and communications roles, including for DSA member Dana Carstensen for Metro Council in 2018, DSA for Bernie in 2019-2020, and two tax-the-rich ballot measures: Universal Preschool for All which won in 2020, and Eviction Representation for All which will be on the ballot in May 2023. She organized two “Bernie Journey” trips, bringing DSA members to Iowa and doorknocking Spanish-speakers in mobile home parks, and then to Nevada to do guerrilla canvassing of union housekeepers on the Las Vegas Strip. Currently she is developing a network of socialist labor leaders to recruit candidates for local office on a class struggle slate, hoping to plant a seed for a future labor party.

Wadlin’s most prominent role is as an organizer in the Portland DSA Labor Working Group since 2018, where she has developed DSA’s relationship with dozens of rank-and-file organizers across industries and helped cement the chapter’s reputation in the labor movement as the go-to solidarity organization. Laura led community support efforts in the BCTGM strike at Nabisco, a healthcare workers’ near-strike at Kaiser, a cross-union near-strike at the City of Portland, a nurses near-strike at Providence, the Laborers 483 strike at the City of Portland, multiple Starbucks strikes, and others. These efforts have recruited many rank-and-file leaders to DSA and inspired one healthcare workers’ union to make a political donation of $10,000 to Portland DSA — twice.

Qadlin has served in many local and national leadership roles including Portland DSA Steering Committee in 2019-2020, Portland DSA Co-chair in 2021-2022, DSA for Bernie Communications Team in 2019-2020, Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee in 2020-2021, and the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union solidarity sub-committee of the National Labor Committee during the Nabisco strike in 2021.

2023/25 NPC

Ahmed Husain, Alex Pellitteri, Amy Wilhelm, Ashik Siddique, Cara Tobe, Colleen Johnston, Frances Gill, John Lewis, Kristin Schall, Laura Wadlin, Luisa Martinez, Megan Romer, Rashad X, Renee Paradis, Rose DuBois, Sam Heft-Luthy.

2023 PDSA Convention Delegate Nomination List

Laura Wadlin is a 2023 Portland Democratic Socialists of America delegate nominee for the biennial DSA national convention to be held in Chicago, Illinois August 4-6, 2023.

I am the former co-chair of Portland DSA. I attended the 2019 and 2021 national conventions. I am a member of the Bread & Roses caucus.

Laura Wadlin

Laura Wadlin

Laura Wadlin is "Lead Steward" of the Portland Community College Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals.

Ecosocialists for the PRO Act

Salem Democratic Socialists of America was live. Ap12 2021·

"The PRO-Act and Democratic Socialism: Workers and the World Unite!"

Join Portland and Salem DSA Ecosocialists for a teach-in on the PRO-Act live on Zoom, Facebook, and Youtube on April 12, 2021 from 6:30-8:00 PM PST. Learn why the PRO-Act is the next best step towards a more just and sustainable world for all people, and how you can immediately help to make it a reality.

Winning a Green New Deal or any transformative change under Biden requires powerful labor and climate movements working in solidarity—the PRO-Act will eliminate roadblocks that prevent workers from building power and open the door to a revitalized labor movement that will fight for the change we all need.

With Panellists [sic] Laura Wadlin co-chair Portland Democratic Socialists of America, Serena Howell, Alex Korsunsky Salem Democratic Socialists of America, Hollie Oakes-Miller, Nick Buri Sunrise PDX, Brando Martin, Brian Denning. ASL translator Sarah Comerford.

Kreisman supporters

Paige Kreisman October 15, 2019 ·

Siri: Show me a 💯% people powered campaign. — with Myra Haq, Laura Wadlin, Russell Lum and Olivia Katbi Smith.

Running for DSA leadership

In 2020 Laura Wadlin ran for Co-chair and At-Large Representative Portland Democratic Socialists of America steering committee.

I'm running for chapter co-chair because I want DSA to be the center of popular socialism and bring radical politics into the mainstream – because I believe "serious politics begin where the masses are, not where there are thousands, but where there are millions."

I became active in DSA after I got fired for leading a unionization campaign at my workplace. For several months I was co-chair of the Labor Working Group where I facilitated trainings and liaised with rank-and-file organizers. I also recently was part of a "guerrilla canvassing" team with other DSA members to mobilize culinary union workers and cab drivers on the Las Vegas strip. I believe that a socialist future depends on union militancy, and as co-chair I would like to see our chapter practice effective labor organizing techniques – our campaigns should be structured with clear goals and benchmarks, and we should make every effort to retain new members.

Bread & Rose City

Portland Democratic Socialists of America newsletter Bread & Rose City Winter 2019.

Production

• Ben Smith | Designer
• Kara Hansen and David Purucker | Editors
• Printed with union pride by Hollywood Impress.

Contributors

• Wade Hilts, Laura Wadlin
• Additional illustration work courtesy of the DSA National Design Committee.